Cantilever ladder type diving board for swimming pool



July 2, 1968 I w. J. BRANDEL ET AL 3,390,740

CANTILEVER LADDER TYPE DIVING BOARD FOR SWIMMING POOL Filed July 14,1965 INVENTORS '6 WILLIAM J. BRANDEL I ROBERT H. SCHMIDT i e? $23-27figs/25am s. FERGE'STROL; %ZZ:ATT%IEVS United States Patent 3,390,740CANTILEVER LADDER TYPE DIVING BOARD FOR SWIMMING POOL William J.Brandel, 18622 Fox, Detroit, Mich. 48219; Robert H. Schmidt, 33605Michele, Livonia, Mich. 48150; and Robert B. Fergestrorn, 18678 Fox,Detroit, Mich. 48219 Filed July 14, 1965, Ser. No. 471,930 Claims. (Cl.182-113) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A diving board for a home use, whichboard is of a cantilever ladder type, in that it has a platformsupported by a special improved type of frame, with the frame in turnsupported on a theoretical line substantially central of the platform bymeans of an upright tubular post having a ground support at its bottom.

The frame is constituted substantially in its entirety by a pair ofone-piece lengths of tubular stock, each bent to provide a bottominturned portion, adjacent inner and medial zones of which portions theframe is fixedly applied, as by means of a collar device, to the top ofthe post. Each tubular length also provides an integral elevated handrail structure including inner and outer upright portions connected by ahorizontal rail portion; and the inner portions depend into the pool asparts of an inside-pool ladder. An outsidepool ladder is in dependingrelation to the inner part of the frame, preferably with provisionsenabling it to be removed or placed in an inoperative position todiscourage use of the diving board.

The present invention relates to an improved cantilever ladder typediving board for swimming pools, more particularly, portable swimmingpools of a rather large size such as have recently come into vogue forhome yard use.

it is an object of the invention to provide a diving board of thisnature which, in addition to a diving platform, proper, equipped withguard rails and ladder to ascend the platform from both the exterior andthe interior of a portable pool, includes a central upright cantileverpost affording the sole support of the diving platform and ladder unit.This post is in turn supported strongly and stably by a relativelymassive concrete ground base, thus leaving space beneath the platformwhich is available for various purposes.

Further in accordance with the invention, the upright cantilever post ofthe diving board is removably associated with its supporting base, as byan upright sleeve incorporated in the latter which telescopinglyreceives the post, thus enabling the platform unit to be removed forwinter storage, without removing the concrete base from location, ifthis is desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a diving board orplatform unit of the above type, centrally supported by heavilycounterweighted base means, in which the inside-pool and outside-poolladders are of an upright length such as to depend to a level above thebottom of the pool and the top of the counterweight base, yetsufficiently low as to be conveniently reached from those surfaces bythe diver.

Still further in accordance with the above object, provision is made topivotally mount the outside-pool ladder to swing upwardly about ahorizontal axis, so that it may be positioned out of reach of smallchildren when the diving board is not to be used. In the alternative,means may be provided to remove the ladder bodily from the remainder ofthe structure for the same purpose, or otherwise to discourageunauthorized use of the board.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become "ice more apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the improvedcantilever-supported diving board of the invention as operativelyassociated with a portable swimming pool or tank;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the diving board unit, as set upin condition for use, also indicating in dotted line the optionalposition of the outside-pool access ladder when the board is not to beused;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged scale view in vertical cross sectionalong line 33 of FIGS. 2 and 4, more clearly illustrating certainprovisions by which the platform of the unit is associated with atubular supporting frame thereof and the cantilever post of the unit;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on line 4-4 of FIG.2, indicating the outline of its bottom platform-supporting framemembers of the unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in end elevation, as from the right of FIG.2, further illustrating a pivotal mount for the outside-pool laddercomponent; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating analternative mode of associating the last mentioned ladder component withthe remainder of the diving board structure.

Such structure, generally designated by the reference numeral 10,basically comprises a platform unit 12 strongly and stably supportedfrom beneath by an upright center post 14, which is in turn supportedwith equal stability by a relatively massive concrete base 16.Typically, the post 14 may be a standard 3 /2" O.D. pipe. Base 16 will,for example, be of about 2 feet width, 4 feet length and foot height,approximating, say, 400 pounds in weight.

Adjacent the pool-side thereof, the base 14 has an upright tubularsocket member or sleeve 17 embedded therein to telescopingly receive thecantilever post 14 with slight sliding clearance; and a small set screwor bolt 13 is provided to normally hold the post against withdrawal. Thefit of the post and sleeve components should be sufficiently close toprevent wobble of the post.

FIG. 1 of the drawing shows the unit 10 as operatively associated with atypical portable, yard-type swimming pool or tank 20, which, because ofits low purchase cost and low cost of installation and maintenance, hascome into considerably popular vogue in recent years.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the platform unit 12 comprisesa rigid tubular frame 22 constructed substantially in its entirety in avery special contour of but two lengths 24 of standard pipe of, say, 1/21" G.D.; and these frame lengths also provide the side uprights 25 ofthe inside-pool ladder of the diving board, which is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 26.

In forming the frame lengths 24 of the platform frame section of thediving board, they are provided, starting with ends thereof which extendover the adjacent wall of the pool or tank 20, with irregular shapedbottom portions 28 best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. These portions are in acommon horizontal plane, and converge outwardly, in reference to thepool and post 14, at an angle such that they substantially meet atreversely curved formations 29 thereof, at which the frame is connectedto cantilever post 14 in a manner to be described.

Departing from this zone, the bottom portions flare or diverge outwardlyaway from one another at 30, and are then bent at 32 upwardly inparallel relation to one another about an arc of curvature amounting to,say From this curved formation, the tube or pipe lengths 24 inclinemildly upwardly at 33 to another curved formation 34 of about extent,then inwardly in a parallel, coplanar relation to one another at 35. Theupwardly extending portions 33 constitute outer upright side portions offrame 22. Finally, the lengths 24 are again curved downwardly at 36approximately 90 into inner upright frame side portions 37, andterminate in substantially vertical, parallel and coplanar relationshipto one another in the ladder side uprights 25. These upright members andthe respective bottom parts 28 of the frame lengths 24 are rigidlyconnected at 90 to one another, as by standard 1% T 38 (FIG. 2).

Thus, the tube or pipe lengths 24, as fabricated in the above outlinesby simple pipe bending procedures, afford elevated hand guide rails atthe top portions 35 thereof which connect the outer and inner frameportions 33, 3'7, respectively, and are well braced in relation to oneanother and to the post 14, without the need for additional strut orlike provisions.

In a typical board or platform unit 12, the frame 22 will have ahorizontal dimension of approximately maximum from its T fittings 38 tothe outer extremity of its curved formations 32; and a side-to-sidedimension across the insides of its remaining portions 33, 35 and 36amounting to, say, 18"; and the dimensions of the platform 40 are suchas to approximate these side dimensions.

The inside-pool tubular uprights 25 are fixedly equipped with a seriesof ladder rungs 42; and (FIG. 2) the insidepool ladder 25 terminatessubstantially above the bottom of pool or tank 20, yet sufficiently lowfor convenient availability to the swimmer.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 4, the platform40 and frame 22 are rigidly supported approximately centrally upon thecantilever post 14 by means of a split collar unit 44 which will permitthe platform and frame to be removed as a unit from the post, ifdesired. Thus, the mounting device 44 comprises a pair of identical andapproximately semi-circular collars 45, each providing a horizontalflange 46 and a collar portion 47 which has diametrically opposite clampears 48. The latter receive through bolts 49 to clamp the members to thetop of post 14.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the clamping device 44 is assembled to frame22 and platform 40, from beneath the frame, at the intermediatereversely curved and substantially meeting formations 29 of framelengths 24, using carriage bolts Stl which are countersunk into the topof platform 40, extending through the frame formations 29 and the collarflanges 46 at four points.

Thus, the platform assembly 12 of the diving board it) is given a verystable, strong and wrack-resistant support on cantilever post 14, whichis in turn equally Well sustained against toppling or lateral shift bythe relatively heavy concrete base 16, the latter also serving as astep.

Directly above base 16 the tubular platform frame 22 carries itsoutside-pool ladder 52, which may, like the platform frame lengths 24,be of 1% tube stock. As

shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, this may be in the form of a U- shaped frame 53,to the side uprights of which a pair of rungs 54 of birch are secured bybracket bands 55. For the purpose of enabling the ladder 52 to be swungupwardly, as to the dotted line position of FIG. 2, and out of reach ofsmall children when the diving board is not to be used, the ladderuprights are at the tops thereof swiveled to frame 22, at the outerbottom bends 32 of the latter, by means of a pair of swiveling collardevices 56. Each of these includes a collar element 56' clamped to theframe portion 32 and a further element 56" clamped to the ladder, andpivotally connected on a horizontal axis to the element 56'.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the outside-pool ladder may be stabilizedhorizontally when in use by a /2 rod 58 pivoted on a collar 59 affixedto cantilever post 14. The rod 58 has a suitable releasable connectionto the bottom of ladder 52, so that when the latter is swung to itsdotted line out-of-reuch position, the stabilizing rod 58 will drop toits dotted line position.

As an alternative to the swingable type of outside-pool ladder 52, theunit contemplates the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, wherein the lastnamed ladder structure is bodily removable in its entirety from theframe and platform structure. Thus, the outside-pool ladder, speciallydesignated 61, has its uprights bent at their extremities 62 into ahorizontal plane, being disposed directly beneath the spread portions 32of the frame structure 22. Split collar-type clips 63 are clamped to theframe portions 32 and clamp the ladder extensions at 64. Ladder 61 maytherefore be removed bodily from the remainder of the diving board, whenaccess to its platform is not desired.

All exposed ends of the frame and ladder pipes or tubes 24, 53 and 61are tightly plugged.

It is seen that the invention affords an improved, highly stable divingboard or platform construction which occupies a minimum of space, andmay be readily assembled to and disassembled from operational condition.It is constructed in its entirety of readily available and veryinexpensive tube or pipe components and platform; and its sales appealfor use in conjunction with the popular type of pool 20 is evident.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A cantilever ladder type diving board, comprising a frame constitutedsubstantially in its entirety of a pair of continuous tubular lengthseach affording an elevated side hand guide rail and a bottom portiondiverted inwardly toward the other of said lengths, said bottom portionssupporting a horizontal platform, said rails terminating in innerupright portions depending substantially beneath said platform andconnected by rung members to form an inside-pool ladder, an upright postaffording a ground support for the frame and platform, said post havingmeans connecting the same to said frame adjacent said bottom portions toprovide a support for the platform on a theoretical line substantiallycentral of the latter, and an outside-pool ladder connected to saidplatform and frame in depending relation to the latter.

2. A cantilever ladder type diving board, comprising a frame constitutedsubstantially in its entirety of a pair of continuous tubular lengthseach affording an elevated side hand guide rail and a bottom portiondiverted inwardly toward the other of said lengths, said bottom portionssupporting a horizontal platform, said rails terminating in innerupright portions depending substantially beneath said platform andconnected by rung members to form an inside-pool ladder, an upright postto afford a ground support for the frame and platform, said post havingmeans connecting the same to said frame adjacent said bottom portions toprovide a support for the platform on a theoretical line substantiallycentral of the latter, said last named means including a collar deviceembracing the post, and means locking said platform and bottom portionsto said device, and an outside-pool ladder connected to said platformand frame in depending relation to the latter,

3. A cantilever ladder type diving board, comprising a frame constructedof a pair of tubular lengths having mutually inwardly convergent bottomportions disposed adjacent one another in an intermediate zoneapproximately central of said portions, inner and outer uprightportions, and upper connecting portions, said upright and connectingportions being integral with the respective bottom portions and insubstantially parallel planes throughout the remainder of the respectivelengths, the inner upright portions depending substantially beneath saidframe bottom portions as parts of an inside-pool ladder, a platformsupported by said bottom portions, an upright post affording a groundsupport for the diving board, said post having means adjacent the topthereof to connect the same to said frame at said intermediate zone ofsaid frame bottom portions, and an outside pool ladder connected to saidframe in depending relation to the latter.

4. A cantilever ladder type diving board, comprising a frame constructedof a pair of tubular lengths having mutually inwardly convergent bottomportions disposed adjacent one another in an intermediate zoneapproximately central of said portions, inner and outer uprightportions, and upper connecting portions, said upright and connectingportions being integral with the respective bottom portions and insubstantially parallel planes throughout the remainder of the respectivelengths, the inner upright portions depending substantially beneath saidframe bottom portions as parts of an inside-pool ladder, a platformsupported by said bottom portions, an upright post provided at itsbottom with a relatively massive base to afford a ground support for thediving board, said post having means adjacent the top thereof to connectthe same to said frame at said intermediate zone of said frame bottomportions, and an outside-pool ladder connected to said frame independing relation to the latter.

5. A cantilever ladder type diving board, comprising a frame constructedof a pair of tubular lengths having mutually inwardly convergent bottomportions disposed adjacent one another in an intermediate zoneapproximately central of said portions, inner and outer uprightportions, and upper connecting portions, said upright and connectingportions being integral with the respective bottom portions and insubstantially parallel planes through the remainder of the respectivelengths, the inner upright portions depending substantially beneath saidframe bottom portions as parts of an inside-pool ladder, a platformsupported by said bottom portions, an upright post affording a groundsupport for the diving board, said post having means adjacent the topthereof to connect the same to said frame at said intermediate zone ofsaid frame bottom portions, including a collar device embracing thepost, and means locking said platform and bottom portions to saiddevice, and an outside-pool ladder connected to said frame in dependingrelation to the latter.

6. A cantilever ladder type diving board, comprising a frame constructedof a pair of tubular lengths having mutually inwardly convergent bottomportions disposed adjacent one another in an intermediate zoneapproximately central of said portions, inner and outer uprightportions, and upper connecting portions, said upright and connectingportions being integral with the respective bottom portions and insubstantially parallel planes through the remainder of the respectivelengths, the inner upright portions depending substantially beneath saidframe bottom portions as parts of an inside-pool ladder, a platformsupported by said bottom portions, an upright post provided at itsbottom with a relatively massive base to afford a ground support for thediving board, said post having means adjacent the top thereof to connectthe same to said frame at said intermediate zone of said frame bottomportions, including a collar device embracing the post, and meanslocking said platform and bottom portions to said device, and anoutside-pool ladder connected to said frame in depending relation to thelatter.

7. A diving board in accordance with claim .1, in which saidoutside-pool ladder has means connecting the same to said platform in amanner enabling the optional positioning of said ladder in relation tothe remainder of the diving board to discourage use of the latter, asdesired.

8. A diving board in accordance with claim 2, in which said outside-poolladder has means connecting the same to said frame in a manner enablingthe optional positioning of said ladder in relation to the remainder ofthe diving board to discourage use of the latter, as desired.

9. A diving board in accordance with claim 3, in which said outside-poolladder has means connecting the same to said frame in a manner enablingthe optional positioning of said ladder in relation to the remainder ofthe diving board to discourage use of the latter, as desired.

10. A diving board in accordance with claim 4, in which saidoutside-pool ladder has means connecting the same to said frame in amanner enabling the optional positioning of said ladder in relation tothe remainder of the diving board to discourage use of the latter, asdesired.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,044 5/1929 Pedersen 182-1132,676,677 4/ 1954 Anderson et al l82--113 2,858,915 11/1958 Patterson52184 2,896,831 7/ 1959 Ellingson 18297 2,962,112 11/1960 Ramsberger etal 4172 3,012,626 12/ 1961 Marryatt 182-413 3,036,712 5/ 1962 Barbard4172 3,288,248 11/1966 Gurian et al 182-118 FOREIGN PATENTS 210,5928/1960 Austria.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Assistant Examiner.

